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One who does, or oversees, the work of keeping house; as, his wife is a good housekeeper; often, a woman hired to superintend the servants of a household and manage the ordinary domestic affairs.

without loss or waste; frugality in expenditure; prudence and disposition to save; as, a housekeeper accustomed to economy but not to parsimony. Political economy. See under Political.

erials, time, etc.; characterized by frugality; sparing; economical; saving; as, a frugal housekeeper; frugal of time. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. Milton.

A housewife or housekeeper. [Obs.]

A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic affairs; a thirfty woman. "The bounteous huswife Nature." Shak. The huswife is she that do labor doth fall. Tusser.

A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages the domestic economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a hospital; as, the matron of a school or hospital. Jury of matrons (Law), a jury of experienced women called to determine the question of pregnancy when set up in bar of execution, and for other cognate purposes.…

In the condition of one starved or starving; parsimoniously. Some boasting housekeeper which keepth open doors for one day, . . . and lives starvedly all the year after. Bp. Hall.

tood, it is a sign that fails not, they are then put to their last trump. Milton. Put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate them. W. Irving.